Lesson 5

CHRIST LEAVES HIS FAMILY

Until He was 30 Christ lived a hidden life with His family in Nazareth . He was unknown to the world except for the neighbours who lived close by. We have seen the lesson that He taught in this way – namely, that it is in and through our family and daily work that we make our way to God. Christ has sanctified the family and work.

But since His life, work, teaching and death were a message – a saving message – not only for His neighbours in Nazareth , but for all men of all ages, Christ had to leave His home and make public this message of life.

The life and deeds of Christ are related in the four Gospels of the Bible. They describe a great variety of events and talks. Some of these descriptions are extremely moving. The reader, with an open mind, cannot fail to be touched by them in the depths of his heart.

Other events described are astounding. They are not easily believed. They would be quite impossible unless this man is someone extraordinary, unless He has powers that mere men do not have, unless, in fact, He is Himself God.

So much depends on the reliability of the Gospel accounts that tell Christ’s story that the reader should ask himself whether they are genuine history or not. As for the documents themselves, versions have been unearthed in different regions and which date from different times, and yet each version agrees with other copies found elsewhere.

An easier test can be made by the reader of the Gospel himself. It is to see whether the language and style used to describe the events of Christ’s life seem extravagant and wild- and therefore suspect – or whether they are sober and matter-of-fact.

Many ancient – and modern – stories describing miracles and strange deeds make the critical reader at once suspicious because of the style of writing.

The Gospels, written by four men, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, who were either eye-witnesses of the events they describe or the companions of eye-witnesses, are written in very plain language. However, in putting down the eye-witnesses accounts of the events in the life of Jesus, the authors of the Gospels were not concerned with every minute detail of the events described these have little value in themselves. These writers were concerned with the deep and saving message that Jesus came to offer men through His words and actions, His life, death and resurrection. At the same time the authors did not disregard the details in enshrining the message. Rather, they used just enough of details to express faithfully and truthfully the life and teaching of Jesus.

Hence we should not treat the Gospels as purely scientific accounts of the history, geography, politics and culture of the Jewish race. They were never meant to be that. They are recorded religious history.